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View Full Version : Beyr's Column re: Md take increase


Dave Schwartz
07-07-2001, 08:08 PM
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/sports/columns/beyerandrew/A19566-2001Jul4.html


What an awesome article by Beyer. He really nailed it.

It seems obvious (to me) that if raising the take decreases the handle and, hence, the profit, the opposite should (could?) be true. That is, lower the take, handle goes up and make more money. But apparently management doesn't connect the obvious casue/effect relationships between the numbers. Amazing, isn't it?

I recall some economist several years ago stating that the impact of lowering the take is that the (average) player still loses but he plays longer. When he plays longer before going broke he parks his car and pays admission an extra day or two, buys a few more programs, beers and hot dogs, and (most important) has a more rewarding experience.

The Nevada casinos understood that 25 years ago when they began lowering slot takes form the previous 15-30% down to the 97-98% "paybacks" of today. Back then 82% of the "total drop" in a typical casino was table games and the other 18% was slots. Now the trend is flip-flopped, with the 82-18% split going the other way.

When will they learn?

Regards,
Dave Schwartz

Tom
07-07-2001, 08:25 PM
The longer it takes for the poor losing slob to die (go broke) the better it is for the game. Sounds cruel, but the game needs losers. We need a large foundation of losers to support the small pinnacle of winners. The only saving grace is that the losers can have some fun while they go broke. Still a better buy than the NFL, NBA, etc,-theyre, your $100-200 is gone in a coupel of hours. At the track, he might get to go 2-3 times.

As for Maryland, I haven't been ther in a few years, but the impression i got was that this pkace is a pig sty! (Pim). There is absolutely no excuse for a place that run down and filthy. It spoke volumes to me about track management. Sure the sports palace was nice- but I was there with a Sartin group and I would never be there every week of the year-I was on vacation and spending money like it wasn't mine. The day in day out plant would drive me away if I lived there.
It is no surprise to me that Maryland dosen't get it.
Track management is surely a loser. Never trust a man who doesn't change his underwear.
Tom